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Author Topic: Do you use a carseat on the plane?  (Read 2133 times)

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Offline waffler

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Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« on: July 24, 2007, 06:45:44 am »
When we travel from Singapore to London, DD will be 18 months old. We have a seat for her. However, initially we were planning on just popping her on our lap during take off landing etc. But now, we're considering buying a carseat so she can sit on the plane in it.

I know it's MUCH safer, but i have some questions.

If anyone has travelled with their toddler on a LONG journey (14 hours!) - do they actually SIT in the carseat??? I'm just wondering.. she'll be between DH and I, and I'm wondering how on earth will she just be happy to sit there?

ANy thoughts?
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Offline evanskimberley

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2007, 07:34:09 am »
We did with our DD when she was 18mo. It helped hr to sit still cos it was a carseat and she was used to haveing to sit in that and not be able to get out. If you think about it, they never ask to get out when you are driving do they!? It also helped her to sleep cos they recline.
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Offline Erin M

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2007, 17:37:23 pm »
LOL, my dd asks to get out of her carseat ALL the time when we are driving ::)  Serioulsy though, I found it was a good help to have it in the plane as it was much more comfortable for her than just sitting in the seat.  Also, I know at least here in the US, I'm pretty sure you have to have a carseat if your child is under 2 and is sitting in the seat.
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Offline aisling

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2007, 18:20:56 pm »
From my experience (6 flights) you don't have to have a carseat for under 2. (we never did) They have to be in your arms and sometimes with a special belt (depends on airlines) during take off/landing or turbulence.  Other than that they can "sit" in their seat. (yeah right  ::) ;D) We did 8 hours at this age no car seat. I didn't want to lug around a car seat we wouldn't be using on our trip as we would be using public transport or taxis.  He sat in his buggy on trains or buses or undergrounds/subways and in Taxi's on my lap belted or in his own seat belted.  We didn't use taxis too often, I'm too cheap and didn't like him in no car seat that often, although the taxi never went more than 10 mph!

HTH,

Aisling x
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Offline Ainsley's Mommy

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2007, 05:49:57 am »
DD has been on 40 flights in her 18 months (believe it or not!).  She is a very good flier, thank goodness!  We live in Northern Canada, and the rules here are that you have to buy them a seat is they are over 2 years old.  You can optionally buy them a seat if they are under 2.  If you do this, then you can choose to have them strapped in their seat, or you must have them sitting on your lap for take off, landing and turbulence.  DD has had her own seat, and not, and both have their pros.  If you buy a seat, without using a carseat, then you have the extra room (assuming the plane is full - many planes will try and get you the space if they have it even if you haven't bought a seat, which is always a bonus!)  Now that DD is 18 months old, I find it easier without one, since she will not sit in her seat for that long without getting fidgity/fussy (we have to do 2-3 different planes, flying over a full day, but nothing more than 3 hours at once).  Plus, if she won't sit in the seat, then the seat just gets in the way!  Even I have a hard time seating in my seat for more than 2 hours or so!

BTW, in Canada, any child who has a car seat must sit next to the window so that they don't block another person in the event of an emergency (just noted about her sitting between you and DH).

HTH!
 :)
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2007, 06:40:52 am »
We didn't use a carseat going to the US at 14 months (international and internal flights) or Japan at 19-20 months. We weren't going to needing it on arrival (rental car providing a seat and in Japan travelling by train). The airlines didn't mention it or expect us to have one.
I was still nursing so wanted him to be able to come on my lap. On these long flights with everyone else sleeping I was prepared to use some AP and nurse or cuddle to sleep if needed. Also it was useful for him to be able to move between daddy lap for book reading or chats or just sit inbetween us. Sometimes he might stand on the floor and use his seat as a table for drawing/ playing. We always used the infant lapbelt for any times when the seat belt sign was on. Using the lapbelt also meant cuddles were an option if take-off and landing were ever a bit disconcerting. We could also raise the seat arm and make lying down space so he could sleep stretched out with his head on my lap. On arrival in Japan Sam was effectively being woken in the early hours of his morning and a few cuddles during landing helped ease that transition. In Japan it would have been very difficult for us to travel around with a carseat as part of our luggage.

I know they work for some people but I think in our case we made the right choice.
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Offline waffler

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2007, 09:30:49 am »
I've done some research on using carseats and there are obvious pros and cons, and also depends a lot on the child I think. I have found one, the Sit n Stroll, which converts to a stroller/highchairbooster. The advantages of this is to bring the child around the airport on the car seat without lugging a stroller about.

As Mira is used to car rides and sleeping in her car seat, I think we'll buy it. She is NOT used to falling asleep in my arms so I don't know how she'd fall asleep! On a Long haul from London I had her in a Moby wrap and did a lot of AP, and it worked... although she woke after 90 minutes and that was it.

Also I'm flying back without DH now.... so if I can get her to sleep in her car seat or even just SIT there so I can have a meal or something (!) might help...!!

SO many things to prepare for our trip to the UK !

Thanks for all the replies.
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Offline ¤ Efka ¤

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2007, 09:39:38 am »
Yeah other thing to think about is, as somebody else said , that airlines have these special belt they want you to use during takeoff and landing.
We had carseat , but he could not stay in there at those times, but I had to hold him. Attached with this belt.
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Offline macdee

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2007, 15:42:15 pm »
Hello waffler, I just had to post something since you also live in S'pore. My dd is coming to 11mths and will be doing her first long haul next wk Friday. As a first time mum, am very nervous of course! We're flying to Ireland via London and I'm taking comfort in the fact that it's a night flight so Sofia will hopefully sleep.

Just wanted to know if you used the bassinet? Sofia's a long baby so not sure if she'll even fit... I was just wondering how big the bassinets usually are... anyone else know??

Also, is the moby wrap available here in S'pore?
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Offline waffler

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2007, 12:05:50 pm »
Hey Hi! Don't meet many people from S'pore here!

We used a bassinet when Mira was 9 months, and she barely fit... and she's the sort of baby who tosses and turns so she kept waking herself up. You can check with SIA (if you're flying with them?) but i THINK the length is around 76 cm... .... best you check though.

And yep, you can get the moby wrap here at Mother and Child, Tanglin Mall.
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Offline macdee

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Re: Do you use a carseat on the plane?
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2007, 12:25:15 pm »
Hi there! Thanks for the reply... We're flying BA but I think the bassinet will probably be about the same. I reckon Sofia will barely fit and she too moves around a lot. Well, hopefully it won't be too bad. When are you off to UK?

Was looking for the moby wrap but the ones I saw at M and C didn't look like the same type I'm thinking of. Oh well, will make do w/ the Baby Bjorn, works just as good.

Thanks again! :)
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